Mail-box.



J. B. CULLEN.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 5,1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

LII/INH y. E l: i x i NT FFGGE.

JOSEPH B. CULLEN,OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

j MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed June 5, 1914. Serial No. 843,184.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. CULLEN, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the countyof Milwaukee and State of Visconsin, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part ofthis specification.

The invention relates to mail boxes.

Formerly it has been the practice to construct mail boxes in which themail is placed without regard to positioning it in the box in anyspecial order, and when the box is opened the mail is removed therefromlin disordered condition and placed in bags which are taken to the postoice. After this, the mail is removed from the bags and placed in pileswith the addresses face up, in which condition it may be sorted.

To obviate the necessity'of arranging the mail previous to its beingsorted, is one of the objects of this invention. ,v

W ith this end in view, the invention designs to provide a mail box inwhich the letters, when deposited therein with the addressed side faceup, are arranged in a vertical stack, so that they may be removed inthis condition, bound together, and carried to the post office, wherethey may be readily sorted or run through the canceling machine.

The invention further designs to provide a mail box with a self-closingcover, and means connected therewith to prevent pilfering of thecontents of the' box.

The invention further designs to provide a shelf upon which the mail mayrest in a vertical stack, which shelf is automatically operated bymechanism connected to the box cooperating with the stack of letterstherein.

The invention further designs to provide a new and improved form of mailbox.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec tional view of the device.Fig. 2 is a vertir `cal sectional view of the device. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation, parts Vbeing broken away. Fig. 4 is a section taken on theline 4-4 of Fig. 1.

r1`he device comprises a box having a base 10, back 11 and sides 12 and13, the back 'and the base projecting outwardly, to provide a spacebetween the sides 12 and 13 and the outer edges of said back and base.Side covers 14 are designed to fit on the outer edges of the back andbase, forming a space between them and the sides 12 and 13. A top cover15 is hinged lto the upper'end of the back 11 and is secured to the sidecovers 14 by rods 16,- each secured at one end to the cover 15, anddetachably secured to the side covers 14 by means of brackets 17 havingapertures therein through which the other ends o f the rods pass, saidends being secured in position by wing nuts 18. The front of the box isprovided with a door 19 hinged to one of the sides, and which may belocked to the other.

The sides 12, 13 and 14 at the upper ends and adjacent the top cover,are recessed, having a horizontally extending portion 2O and an upwardlyinclined portion 21, a plate 22 resting upon the edges of the sides atthe portion 20 and extending thereacross, and a plate 23 resting uponthe edges of the sides at the portion 21, and extending thereacross,said plate 23 having a transversely extending aperture or slot 24adjacent its bottom edge for receiving the mail. A partition 20 issecured to the sides 12 and 13, and forms the back of the mail boxproper.

A cover 25 is pivotally secured to the box adjacent the slot 24 by pins26 secured to it adjacent one edge, which pins are pivotally -n1ountedin brackets 27 secured to the sides 12 and 13.

Counterweights 28 are rigidly secured to the ends of the pin 26, asshown vin Figs. 1 and 4, so that, when the cover 25 is turned down so asto rest upon the plate 22, the weights will assume the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, and on a release of the cover it will return toits normal position to cover the slot 24 and rest upon the plate 23.This construction thus serves to provide a self-closing cover.

The means for receiving and arranging the mail inthe box in the form ofa stack, comprises mechanism connected to and operated by the cover 25,which cooperates with an automatically adjustable support or shelfhereinafter described.

vThe mechanism connected to and operated by the cover comprises amovable" rack 29 having rack bars 30, said rack carrying pins 31whichare pivotally connected toone of the ends of a pair of upwardlycurved,arms 32, the other ends of which are pivotal-ly secured to pins33 secured to the cover 25 'aidjacent the upper edge thereof.` The .arms32, when moved by the movement ofuthe cover 25, serve to move the rackbackwardly and forwardly,A and'to rotate the same, the rack beingsupprted by the pins 31 which engage and are movablelongitudinallyextending slots 34 in the sides 12 and 13, which slots alsoserve tollimit the movement of the rack. `The partition 20 is provided with aplurality of vertical recessesor slots 35 in which the ra'clrba1s 3Q arefree yto move, and a pluralityof bars 36 are, secured to the upper vedgeof the partition 20,', and extend outwardly therefrom to a positionadjacent the plate 23, and are disposed 'fadjacent the slots 35, therebyforming a p lurality of horizontal 'slots which form a continuation ofthe vertical slots 3 5, so thatgthe rack bars 30 are free to movetherein. The slots 35 inthe partition 20 andthe continuation oftheseslots between the bars 36 form a fixed rack within 'theIboXwhich C'ooperates. with the movable rack touniformly deposit the mail intheform of. a stack.

.Arms 36 arese'curedto the endsof the pins 31 and areoperatively securedto arms 32 yby springs37, which :permit movement of the rack withrespect tothe arms 32. An innery cover plate 38 is s'lidably securedadjacent the y'plate 23 by apluralitybffpins 39 on either sidethereofwhich move in slots 40 inthe sides 12 and 13, and which fareoperatively connected .with the curved arms 32, said arms being disposedbetween said pins. This ,plate 38 `has a slot 41 whichV registers withthe slot 24 when the ycover 25is wide open. .f y l The automaticallyadjustable shelf comprises a shelf 42 .ttingbetween the sides 12 and 13,and having its rear edge disposed adjacent the-:partition 20 of theboX,which construction for-ms a chute open at its front end. The shelf has adepending-portion4 43 whichcarries lugs 44 s'lidablyV secured inverticalslots 45 in the sides of the-bok,y and to which are connected'one of,aipair of leXible connections 46 whichpass over pulleys 47 pivotallylmounted uponthe sides of the box, and carry counterweights 48 attheirother ends. Owing to this construction, there is a constanttendencyforthe shelf to"mo,ve upwardly, but this is checked by `an adjustablelocking means .comprising a pair of ratchet bars 49 secured to saidshelf by a pin and slot connection, the outer ends of said barsregistering with a .pair of toothed racks 50 secured to the sides 12 and13, said bars being yieldinglyy pressedapartto engage the racks 50 by aspring 51 interposed between their inner ends. This construction servesto lock the shelf against upward movement by the counterweights, butpermits downward movement,as the teeth on the rack have downwardlyinclined sides 52 and horizontal sides 53. The open side of the chute ispartially closed by a pairv of spring controlled doors 54 hinged to thesides 12 and 1'3 of the boX and secured in closed position by springs55.

The paitition20, sides 12 and 13, doors 54 and adjustable shelf 42 forman `eXtensible chute h'avingan open space between the doors, so that theletters which are arranged thereinin the ,form of a stack, may be takentherefrom in this condition.

. ,The operation of the device is as follows: The cover 25, 'shown inclosed position in Fig. 1, is pulled down to open position, as Ishown inFig. 2. In 'closed position, the rack bars 30 faire raised as shown indotted lines The pins are at the farthest end of the slots 34, and theinner cover 38 in raised position, the 'pins 39 thereon being in theiruppermost position in the slots 40. As the cover 25 moves forwardly, thearms 32 move with' it, carrying the vrack 29, the pins 31 on the rack'moving in the slots 34; rthe 'c'ounterweights 28 move upwardly and theinner vcover 38 moves downwardly, the pins 39 'thereon moving in theslots 40, which movement continues until the cover 25 reaches itsveXtreme forward 'or open position, as shownin Fig. 2.o' This exposesthe 'slot`24'in the plate 23 and the slot 41 inthe Vcover 38, 'and aletter is placed therein with Athe addressed sideiface up, suitableinstructions loeing.provided onthe 'cover for this purpose. Theflett'erdeposited under these conditions rests upon the face of the rack bars30, which barsare disposed in the slots 35, so that the letter isbetweensaid bars and thefba'rs 36; Then the cover is released,

Aand underthe -action of the weights 28 is moved to closed position.During the first part of this movement, the rack 29 is moved upwardly,and the letter carried by the bars '30 is forced' upwardly against thebars 36, and being interposed 'between the bars 30 and 36, preventsfurther upward movement of the rack bars which now,'by reason of theV,spring connection with the arms 32, are moved longitudinally along theunder face .of the letter, until they are released therefromandtheletter drops down upon the .L 'shelf 42. LLAt the same time that therack 29 and'arnis 32 are moving'backwardly, the inner ycover 38 rismoving downwardly to cover the slot24. Thus the movable rack 29 and thefixed rack formed bythe bars 36 and 'i partition 20 cooperate to form ameans for automatically and uniformly depositing mail inthe boX in theform of a stack.

The 'above' operations take place in depositing 4each letter, and asthesuccessive `letters fall upon the shelf 42, they are ar- Vthe ratchetbars 49, which are free to move downwardly, as previously pointed out,will be forced in position under the sides 53 of one of the teeth on theracks-50, and further upward movement of said shelf prevented. Thus itfollows that as successive letters are deposited within the box, theshelf 42 moves downwardly as the stack increases, until the chute iscompletely ufilled.

It will be noted that the chute is so shaped and the partition 20 sopositioned that only mail which is inserted lengthwise of the slot 24can be deposited so that the present construction insures a uniformstacking of the mail within the box.

The mailman, in collecting, opens the outer door 19, and, placing hishand between the spring hinged doors 54, grasps a quantity of lettersand pulls them out, and binds them together in bundles.

It will be further noted that the inner cover 38 formsa guard means andprevents any tampering with the contents of the box through the slot 24,for as soon as the cover is started on its upward movement, the cover 38moves up to cover the slot 24.

rI`he invention thus exemplifies a mail box which is constructed so thatmail may be deposited therein in the form of a stack, to facilitate itsremoval from the box and its future handling at the distributing office.

T he invention is not to be restricted to the details of constructionherein set forth, but may be varied so as to be within the scope of theappended claims.

`What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a mail box, the combination, with a box body, of an extensiblechute, means within said body for automatically and uniformly depositingmail on its fiat sides in said chute in the form of a stack, and meansfor permitting of the removal of the mail from the box in this form.

2. In a mail box, the combination, with a box body, of a movable cover,and means within said body and operatively connected with said cover forautomatically depositing mail in said body in the form of a stack.

3. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a cover secured to said body adjacent said slot, andmechanism comprising means operatively connected with said cover fordepositing the mail in the box in the form of a stack.

4. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot,and mechanism comprising means operatively connected with said cover fordepositing mail in the box in the form of a stack, and with one of itsflat sides uppermost.

5. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot,a chute for receiving the mail after it has passed'through the slot, andmechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated therebyfor depositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack.

6. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot,a chute for receiving mail after it has passed through the slot, andmeans comprising a rack connected to the cover and operated thereby fordepositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack.

7. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adje-'93 cent saidslot, a chute for receiving mail after it has passed through the slot,and means comprising a sliding and rotatable rack connected to the coverand operated thereby and a lixed rack for depositing the l mail in thechute in the form of a stack.

Y 8. In a mail box, the combination of a box body, a chute in said bodyfor receiving the mail, means for depositing the mail in said chute inthe form of a stack, and means for varying the length of said chute.

9. In a mail box, the combination of a box body, a chute in said bodyfor receiving the mail, means for depositing the mail in said chute inthe form of a stack, and means for automatically varying the length ofsaid chute.

10. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adl" jacent saidslot, a chute for receiving mail, mechanism comprising means connectedto the cover and operated thereby for depositing the mail in the chutein the form of a stack, and means for varying the length of said chute.

1l. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a cover pivotally secured to said body adjacent said slot,a chute for receiving the iii mail from said slot, mechanism comprisingmeans connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing themail into the ros rio

'iss

'chute in the form of a stack, and an adjustable shelf for holding themail so deposited.

12. In a mail box, the combination of ,a box body having a mailreceiving slot ytherein, a cover pivoted to said body adjacent saidslot, a chute for receiving mail from said slot, said chute comprisingsides and a back, anda pair of doors for partially inclosing` the frontoit' said chute, mechanism comprising means connected to the cover andoperated thereby Jfor depositing the mail in said chute in the form of astack, and an adjustable .shelf for receiving `the mail so deposited.

13. n a mail box, the combination, With a box body of an extensiblechute, and means for automatically depositing mail on its fiat sides insaid chute in the form of a stack.

14. A mail box comprisinga box body, mechanism Within said body forautomatically depositing mail therein in the form of a stack, and meansfor operating said mechanism, said mail being deposited With one of yitsflat faces uppermost.

15. In a mail box, the combination, with a box body, of means forreceiving mail as deposited in the body, a movable inail-receivingsupport in said body, means cooperating With said receiving means toautomatically deposit mail upon said movable support in the form of astack, said receiving means also serving to secure the mail so stackedupon said support.

16. A mail box comprising-a box body, movable means Withinthe body forreceiving the mail thereon, means Afor reciprocating said movable meansand means cooper-ating with said movable means Jfor auu tomaticallydepositing the mail in said body in the form of -a stack.

17. A mail box comprising a box body, movable means Within said bodyi'orreceiving the mail on one of its flat sides, means for reciprocatingsaid movable means, and

`means cooperatingWithsaid movable means for automatically depositingthe mail` in said body in the for-m of a stack.

18. Aanail boxfcomprising abox body, fixed means Within said body,movable means Within the body for receiving the mail thereon, and meansfor operating said movable means, said movable means and xedmeanscoperating to automatically deposit the mail in said body in the form ofa stack.

1f). A mail boxcomprising a box body, fixed means Within said body,movable means within the body for receiving` mail thereon, said mailbeing interposed between the ixed and movable means, and means forreciprocating and rotating the movable means to move the mail againstthe fixed means and deposit it in the form of a stack.

20. A mail box comprising a box body, movable means Within the body forreceiving mail thereon, fixed means Within said body, and means forreciprocating and oscil- ;tomaticallydepost the mail in said body in theform of a stack.

' 22. A mail box comprising a box body having a mail receiving slottherein, means in said body forreceiving and automatically depositingmail therein in the form of a stack, means for operating said means, andguard means for the slot operated by said Aoperating means.

23. A mail box comprising a box body having a mail receiving slottherein, means in said body for receiving and depositing mail therein inthe form of a stack, means for operating said means, and a guard meansfor the -slot comprising a plate slidablyY mounted in said body andoperated by said operating means. l

24. In a mail box the combination of a vbox body, a chute in said body,means for depositing the mail in said chute, and means for automaticallyvarying the length of said chute.

25. A mail box comprising a box body, an open-sided chute in said body,means for ydepositing the mail in said chute in the form .of a stack,means for automatically varying the length of said chute, and movablemeans forpartially closing the open side of said chute.

26. A mail box comprising a box body, an open-sided chute in said body,means in said body for depositing mail in said chute in the form of astack, means for automatically varying the length of said chute, andself closing doors for partially closing the open side of said chute.

27. A mail box comprising a box body,

`mechanismvvithin said body for depositing the mail therein in the formof a stack, and automatically movable means for supporting the mail sodeposited.

28. A mail box comprising a box body, an open-sided chute in said body,means for depositing the mail in saidchute in the form of a stack, meansfor automatically varying the length of said chute, and means for par-ltiallyl closing the open side of said chute.

29. A mail box comprising a box body, a

movable support in said body, movable means for receiving andautomatically de* positing the mail in said body upon said support andfor securing the mail so stacked between it and the support, and meansfor automatically moving said support to accommodate the increase ofmail in the stack.

30. A .mail box comprising a box Abody, a support in said body, means insaid body for receiving and automatically depositing mail in saidbodyupon said support inr the form of a stack, and means for automaticallymoving said support downwardly as the stack increases comprising`releasable means in engagement with said body.

3l. A mail box comprising a box body a support in said body, means insaid body or receiving and automatically depositing mail therein in theform of a stack, means for releasably securing said support to the bodyto permit the support to move downwardly as the stack increases, andmeans for counteract-ing said downward movement to hold the mail betweenthe support and the depositing means. y

32. A mail box comprising a box body, a movable support in said body,guide means for said support, means for releasably securing said supportto the body to permit said support to move downwardly in said guides andlock it against upward movement, and means in said body for receivingand automatically depositing mail therein upon said support in the formof a stack.

33. 1n a mail box, the combination of a box body, a movable support insaid body, a plurality of racks in said body, ratchet bars secured tosaid support and releasably engaging said racks, and means in said bodyfor receiving and automatically depositing mail therein upon saidsupport in the form of a stack.

34. A mail box comprising a box body, a support in said body, means insaid body for receiving and automatically depositing mail therein in theform of a stack, means for releasably securing said support to the bodyto permit said support to move downwardly and lock it against upwardmovement, and means for counteracting said downward movement to hold themail between the support and the depositing means.

35. A mail box comprising a box body, a support in said body, means insaid body for receiving and automatically depositing mail therein in theform of a stack, means for releasably securing said support to the bodyto permit said support to move downwardly and lock it against upwardmovement, and gravity actuated means for counteracting said downwardmovement to hold the mail between the support and the depositing means.

36. A mail box comprising a box having a mail receiving slot therein, aself-closing cover secured to said body adjacent said slot, andmechanism comprising means operatively connected with said cover fordepositing the mail in the box in the form of a stack.

37. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a self-closing cover pivotally secured to said bodyadjacent said slot, and mechanismV comprising 1 means operativelyconnected. with said cover for depositing mail in the box in the form ofa stack, and with one of its flat sides uppermost.

38, In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a self closing cover pivotally secured to said bodyadjacent said slot, a chute for receiving the mail after it has passedthrough .the slot, and mechanism comprising means connected to the coverand operated thereby for depositing the mail in the chute in the form ofa stack.

39. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a. self-closing cover pivotally secured to said bodyadjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail after it has passedthrough the slot, and means comprising a rack connected to the cover andoperated thereby for depositing the mail in the chute in the Jform of astack.

40. 1n a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a self-closing cover pivotally secured to said bodyadjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail after it has passedthrough the slot, and means comprising a sliding and oscillating rackconnected to the cover and operated thereby and a fixed rack fordepositing the mail in the chute in the form of a stack.

4l. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a self closing cover pivotally secured to said bodyadjacent said slot, a chute for receiving mail, mechanism comprisingmeans connected to the cover and operated thereby for depositing themail in the chute in the form of a stack, and means for varying thelength of said chute.

42. In a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a self-closing cover pivotally secured to said bodyadjacent said slot, a chute for receiving the mail from said slot,mechanism comprising means connected to the cover and operated therebyfor depositing the mail into the chute in the form of a stack, and anautomatically adjustable shelf for holding the mail so deposited.

43. 1n a mail box, the combination of a box body having a mail receivingslot therein, a self-closing cover pivoted to said body adjacent saidslot, a chute for receiving mail Said slot, said chute comprising sidesand an automatically adjustable shelf for In testimony whereof, aIiX mysignature, 1n presence of two Witnesses;

JOSEPH B. CULLEN.

and a back, and a pair of doors for paitially inclosing the front ofsaid chute, mechanism comprising means connected to the covel1 andoperated thereby for depositing the mail in said chute in the form of astack, Witnesses:

KATHERINE Hom,l receiving the mail so deposited. C. H. KEE'NEY.

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner lof Patents,

Washington, D. 0;

